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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Fairbanks, Alaska. I took this picture outside of the public library. This one tree just looked so pretty, with its little lights against the white background of the snow and frosty trees. It's about 2:00PM here– see how low the sun is?

I'm going to try, when I go back to school, to ask the children what they gave instead of what they got. For my part, I sent many cards and letters, made yummy cookies and ornaments for my coworkers, and tried to find educational gifts for my niece and nephews. I received a sled, an Atari (so fun!) a beautiful handmade scarf, some pajama pants, some very pretty earrings, and lots of other booty.

I am resolving to write more letters this coming year, especially to my Nana. So please hold me to it. I wish you a wonderful holiday season, and a new year filled with good things.

And I catch her looking at it all of the time– in the mirror while brushing her teeth, while she's watching TV, at stop lights…

Someday, somewhere, it will be legal, and we will be ready. In the meantime we're going to get medical power of attorney and add our name to each other's bank accounts on Thursday.

Sweetheart, I love you more than anything in the world. For always.

Today is…15 seconds longer than yesterday, here in Fairbanks, Alaska. It's still just 3 hours and 42 minutes of daylight, but 15 seconds longer all the same. It is dark out until at least 10:30 or so, and close enough to pitch black by the time school lets out at 3:00. It's depressing, but it definitely makes me appreciate being outside in the sunshine. I try to duck outside for at least a minute or two every day, to avoid feeling like I live in outer space or something.

I've been in kinder this week, and R and I are starting to place bets on how many kids will cry each day. Here's the rundown from yesterday:
-B cried because I was giving out chocolate chips during cleanup time, and I didn't give one to him when he yanked a toy out of someone else's hand and ran off with it– he thought that he was helping by doing this.
-H cried because he left his snowpants at home and had to wear a too big pair from the nurse.
-S cried because T knocked over her blocks.
-T cried because he got a time out for knocking down S's blocks.
-L cried because he got a time out for running in the classroom (3 times!) Then he started to yell across the room, "I don't like it when you make me miss my playtime!"
-H cried again because he didn't want to clean up.
-R cried because someone ate his cookie.

That makes a grand total of 7 for the day, not bad! I'm betting there will be 5 today. We'll see! Really, they are very sweet, but they are just so tired from all of the holiday stuff. It's a tough week to be 5 years old, busy and exhausted and desperately waiting for Santa. Come to think of it, I'm busy and exhausted and desperately waiting for Santa, too. (I have ibuprofen and coffee, though.)

This project is featured on the Handmade with Paper portion of Holidays Handmade at small notebook. Take a look at the other projects as well!

I learned to make these paper snowflakes at school this year. They are so easy and turn out so lovely. Hope you like them!

Note: My table is covered with art supplies, shortbread cookies, caramel, and chocolate. We are dipping shortbread cookies into caramel and chocolate and nuts and things with R's mom tomorrow. Not to eat, but for gifts. I suppose I will muster up what little willpower I do possess, and try not to eat my way through the cookies. Or through the rest of the holiday season, either.

You will need: scissors, tape, a stapler, and 6 paper squares. These are 5 inch squares, but anything from 4-10in will work.

Fold diagonally, and cut three sets of parallel lines, starting from the folded edge. This does not need to be precise. The lines should come close to meeting in the middle, but not actually touch.

Larger snowflakes (8-10 in. squares) could have 4 or 5 parallel lines.

Unfold, and lay flat. You should see 4 diamonds.

Roll the smallest two triangles into a tube and tape.

Flip the snowflake over (the place you just taped is now underneath), and tape the second two triangles into a tube. Keep flipping, rolling and taping.

The finished piece looks like this. Do this with the other 5 squares, too.

Match up the corners of three pieces, and staple. Do the same with the other three pieces.

Staple at the point where each of the 6 arms touch.

All done! Hang from a string and display.

Here they are hanging above our bed. Cat added for scale and cuteness.

[ED: Tutorial on how to make these here.]

I made several of these paper snowflakes last night while R was out. I hung them from the ceiling over our bed. They looked super– until they fell down overnight. (Must find a new way to hang things from the ceiling.)

While I was taking pics of the bedroom I decided to do a little house tour for you. When looking at the pictures please do remember that I don't own the house, and the choice of furniture/paint/general layout is not mine.

I could be persuaded to make a tutorial for the snowflakes (they're pretty easy), if you're interested.